Washtub-protector



I. B. DORSEY.

WASHTUB PROTECTOR. APPLICATION HLED nc.2. 1920.

Patented Dec. 20, 1921.

gwuemtoz i 1. a if,

TTEs WASHT'UB-PROTECTOR.

Application filed. December To all whom 2'2? may concern Be it known that I, ISHUM Born Donsnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eminence, in the county of Henry and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washtub-Protectors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an extremely simple and inexpensive, yet a highly efiicient and durable device for protecting wash tubs against the wearing to which they are usually subjected by resting a washboard on the bottom of the tub.

A further object is to provide a device of the class set forth which may be quickly and easily attached or detached as desired.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel construction of the device hereinafter described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a wash tub showing an inside view of the protector applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view as designated by line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pro tector detached from the tub.

In the drawing above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a vertically disposed arcuate wall formed of sheet metal and conforming in curvature to the wall of an ordinary wash tub, said wall lbeing provided adjacent its upper end with a pair of hooks 2 which are adapted to take over the edge of the wash tub. At its lower end, the plate 1 is equipped with an approximately horizontal, though slightly inclined shelf or ledge 3 which is spaced a slight distance from the bottom of the tub when the device is in use as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The wash board then rests on this shelf or ledge and bears against the wall 1, instead of contacting directly with the bottom and side of the tub, with the result that the life of the latter is greatly increased.

The hooks 2 are preferably formed by downwardly bending the upper ends of a pair of stiff metal bars 4, the major portions of said bars being secured to the outer side of the wall 1, by rivets or the like 5. By this arrangement, the wall 1 is effectively Specification of Letters Patent.

l atented Dec. 24 NW1.

2, 1920. Serial No. 427,889.

stiffened by the bars a and if desired, it may be additionally reinforced by beading its upper edge as indicated at 6, crimping its ends at 7, and stamping longitudinal ribs 8 between the bars 4.

The shelf 3 may of course be attached to the lower end of the plate 1 in any preferred manner, but I prefer to bend said end of the plate upwardly substantially upon itself as shown at 9, to bend a flange 10 downwardly from the inner edge of the shelf 3, to interpose said flange between the bent end 9 of the plate 1 and the body of said plate, and to pass rivets or the like 11 through all of these parts. This forms not only a simple and inexpensive connection, but one which is rigid and serviceable. For purposes of reinforcement, the outer edge of the shelf 3, that is the edge remote from the wall 1, is preferably folded on itself to form a hollow bead 12, the folded edge of said shelf being secured to the body thereof by rivets 13.

I prefer to provide the shelf or the like 3 with perforations 14, but it will be understood that this is not altogether essential.

In using the device, it is positioned in the tub and the hooks 2 are engaged with the upper edge thereof. The wall 1 then conforms substantially to the curvature of the tub wall and supports the shelf 3 a slight distance above the bottom of the tub. The wash board is supported by this shelf and bears against the wall 1 and it will thus be seen that no wear whatever is exerted on either the bottom or wall of the tub, with the result that the life of the latter is greatly increased.

Since probably the best results may be obtained from the exact details shown and described, such details may be followed if desired. I wish it understood however that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may well be made.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a vertical wall adapted for disposition at the inner side of a wash tub wall and curved to conform to the curvature of the latter, hooks on said curved wall adapted to engage the upper edge of the tub wall, and a substantially horizontal shelf extending inwardly from the lower end of said curved wall, said shelf and curved wall being adapted to jointly support a wash board.

2. A device of the class described compris- 7 ing a vertical wall adapted for disposition at the inner side of the wall of a wash tub, hooks on the upper edge of said wall adapted I j to engage the .upper'edge of the tub, the

said downwardly bent edge of said shelf 7 the outer edge of said shelf being folded downwardly and inwardly upon itself to provide a reinforcingbead, and means securing the folded edge of said shelf to the 15 body of the latter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

7 ISHUM BOYD DORSEY. 

